Static Imagery Research Articles

The neuro-oscillatory profiles of static and dynamic music-induced visual imagery

Visual imagery, i.e., seeing in the absence of the corresponding retinal input, has been linked to visual and motor processing areas of the brain. Music listening provides an ideal vehicle for exploring the neural correlates of visual imagery because it has been shown to reliably induce a broad variety of content, ranging from abstract shapes to dynamic scenes. Forty-two participants listened with closed eyes to twenty-four excerpts of music, while a 15-channel EEG was recorded, and, after each excerpt, rated the extent to which they experienced static and dynamic visual imagery. Our results show both static and dynamic imagery to be associated with posterior alpha suppression (especially in lower alpha) early in the onset of music listening, while static imagery was associated with an additional alpha enhancement later in the listening experience. With regard to the beta band, our results demonstrate beta enhancement to static imagery, but first beta suppression before enhancement in response to dynamic imagery. We also observed a positive association, early in the listening experience, between gamma power and dynamic imagery ratings that was not present for static imagery ratings. Finally, we offer evidence that musical training may selectively drive effects found with respect to static and dynamic imagery and alpha, beta, and gamma band oscillations. Taken together, our results show the promise of using music listening as an effective stimulus for examining the neural correlates of visual imagery and its contents. Our study also highlights the relevance of future work seeking to study the temporal dynamics of music-induced visual imagery.

Is animation always better for learning Chinese characters?

Abstract The present study investigated the effect of animations on Chinese character learning in multimedia presentations. In particular, we examined whether animations focusing on different knowledge of characters would yield different performance among students learning Chinese characters. The role of the animations which focused on the etymology of Chinese characters was tested in Experiment 1 with twelve English secondary school students. The results found that etymological animations were superior to flashcards for learners in recognizing forms of Chinese characters but not for understanding their meanings. In Experiment 2, the effect of animations which focused on demonstrating stroke order along with the audio explanations and on-screen written texts was addressed with 60 Thai secondary school students. The results revealed that animations demonstrating stroke order did not provide learners with advantages in orthographic learning. However, the findings support the redundant principle that static imagery and spoken and written text together facilitated character learning. In addition, the study showed that the students’ pace and flexibility of learning, the level of character difficulty, and students’ active processing have significant roles in character learning performance in a multimedia settings. This study provides implications for the design of multimedia instruction in foreign language acquisition and sheds light on the theoretical assumptions of dual-coding theory regarding learners’ cognitive loads in multimedia processing.

The influence of visually dynamic imagery on purchase intentions: The roles of arousal and lay rationalism

The presence of motion is increasingly common in online advertising. Despite the increase in spending on digital advertisements and decades of academic research on dynamic imagery in advertising, our understanding of this phenomenon remains limited. The dynamic default hypothesis posits that animated imagery should generate more arousal than comparable static imagery. However, research on advertisements containing dynamic imagery reveal inconsistencies in their ability to stimulate arousal. A potential explanation for these inconsistent findings lies in the behavioral urgency hypothesis, which postulates that not all motion is weighted equally in terms of its ability to generate arousal. We conduct three experiments to test this proposition. Interestingly, our findings show that imagery appearing to loom closer to consumers stimulates greater levels of arousal than either static or imagery appearing to recede away from consumers. Additionally, our work identifies moderating effects of lay rationalism which can work to strengthen or attenuate these effects. Together, this work provides a more comprehensive explanation for the varied findings in the literature.

Remote Sensing Neural Radiance Fields for Multi-View Satellite Photogrammetry

Neural radiance fields (NeRFs) combining machine learning with differentiable rendering have arisen as one of the most promising approaches for novel view synthesis and depth estimates. However, NeRFs only applies to close-range static imagery and it takes several hours to train the model. The satellites are hundreds of kilometers from the earth. Satellite multi-view images are usually captured over several years, and the scene of images is dynamic in the wild. Therefore, multi-view satellite photogrammetry is far beyond the capabilities of NeRFs. In this paper, we present a new method for multi-view satellite photogrammetry of Earth observation called remote sensing neural radiance fields (RS-NeRFs). It aims to generate novel view images and accurate elevation predictions quickly. For each scene, we train an RS-NeRF using high-resolution optical images without labels or geometric priors and apply image reconstruction losses for self-supervised learning. Multi-date images exhibit significant changes in appearance, mainly due to cars and varying shadows, which brings challenges to satellite photogrammetry. Robustness to these changes is achieved by the input of solar ray direction and the vehicle removal method. NeRFs make it intolerable by requiring a very long time to train an easy scene. In order to significantly reduce the training time of RS-NeRFs, we build a tiny network with HashEncoder and adopted a new sampling technique with our custom CUDA kernels. Compared with previous work, our method performs better on novel view synthesis and elevation estimates, taking several minutes.

Collaborative Sense-Making in Genomic Research: The Role of Visualisation.

Genomic research emerges from collaborative work within and across different scientific disciplines. A diverse range of visualisation techniques has been employed to aid this research, yet relatively little is known as to how these techniques facilitate collaboration. We conducted a case study of collaborative research within a biomedical institute to learn more about the role visualisation plays in genomic mapping. Interviews were conducted with molecular biologists (N = 5) and bioinformaticians (N = 6). We found that genomic research comprises a variety of distinct disciplines engaged in complex analytic tasks that each resist simplification, and their complexity influences how visualisations were used. Visualisation use was impacted by group-specific interactions and temporal work patterns. Visualisations were also crucial to the scientific workflow, used for both question formation and confirmation of hypotheses, and acted as an anchor for the communication of ideas and discussion. In the latter case, two approaches were taken: providing collaborators with either interactive or static imagery representing a viewpoint. The use of generic software for simplified visualisations, and quick production and curation was also noted. We discuss these findings with reference to group-specific interactions and present recommendations for improving collaborative practices through visual analytics.

A Single-Center Study Evaluating the Effects of a Novel Retinol and Cannabidiol Combination Topical on Facial Skin.

BackgroundWhile retinol is known to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, it is associated with irritating effects. However, when combined with water soluble cannabidiol (CBD; CR Topical), CBD may act to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, mitigating irritation from retinol and further improving the skin’s appearance through independent anti-aging mechanisms. ObjectivesTo assess the efficacy and tolerability of CR-Topical for improving facial skin.MethodsIn this prospective, single-center pilot study, 9 female patients and one male patient aged 20 to 53 years who presented with facial skin imperfections (visible pores, dehydration, roughness, and/or static/dynamic wrinkles) applied CR-Topical to the entire face once daily for 42 days. Outcomes were measured on days 1, 21, and 42 using the Global Ranking Scale (GRS) with Comprehensive Skin Analysis by the patient and senior investigator as well as by a blinded reviewer (board-certified plastic surgeon). Dynamic videos and static imagery were taken before and after treatment, and patient satisfaction surveys were completed.ResultsGlobal improvement across all 13 domains was observed, with the greatest mean differences for visible pores (2.0; 95% CI, 1.5-2.5), dehydration (2.0; 95% CI, 1.4-2.6), surface roughness (1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.4), static wrinkles (1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-2.5), and dynamic wrinkles (1.6; 95% CI, 0.8-2.3). Patient satisfaction (100%) and willingness to recommend the product to others (90%) were high, and tolerability of CR-Topical was excellent.ConclusionsCR-Topical is effective at improving global skin quality, including static and dynamic wrinkles. This study also used 4-dimensional analysis in the evaluation, a novel and developing method.Level of Evidence: 4

THE EUROPEAN PILLAR OF SOCIAL RIGHTS

The European Pillar of Social Rights is a high-profile political reaffirmation of twenty social rights and principles. Its implementation deploys the full EU governance arsenal: regulations, directives, recommendations, communications, new institutions, funding actions, and country-specific recommendations. As such, the static imagery evoked by a ‘pillar’ does not capture the true nature of the initiative, which is dynamic and fluid, wide-ranging, and permeating. An equation of the Pillar with the set of twenty rights and principles it proclaims similarly fails to capture its true significance, which lies in its programmatic nature. Several important measures have already been proposed as part of this new social action plan for Europe, some of which are close to adoption. This Article analyses the meaning of the Pillar and its potential significance, by considering its content sensu largo, and its broader context. It argues that even if the Pillar cannot address all the EU's social failings, it has put a surprising social spin on the Better Regulation Agenda that was threatening to erode the social acquis, it has rekindled the EU's relationship with the International Labour Organization and Council of Europe, and it helps rebalance the EU's output by reviving the use of the Treaty's Social Title.

Differential Influence of the Dorsal Premotor and Primary Somatosensory Cortex on Corticospinal Excitability during Kinesthetic and Visual Motor Imagery: A Low-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study.

Consistent evidence suggests that motor imagery involves the activation of several sensorimotor areas also involved during action execution, including the dorsal premotor cortex (dPMC) and the primary somatosensory cortex (S1). However, it is still unclear whether their involvement is specific for either kinesthetic or visual imagery or whether they contribute to motor activation for both modalities. Although sensorial experience during motor imagery is often multimodal, identifying the modality exerting greater facilitation of the motor system may allow optimizing the functional outcomes of rehabilitation interventions. In a sample of healthy adults, we combined 1 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to suppress neural activity of the dPMC, S1, and primary motor cortex (M1) with single-pulse TMS over M1 for measuring cortico-spinal excitability (CSE) during kinesthetic and visual motor imagery of finger movements as compared to static imagery conditions. We found that rTMS over both dPMC and S1, but not over M1, modulates the muscle-specific facilitation of CSE during kinesthetic but not during visual motor imagery. Furthermore, dPMC rTMS suppressed the facilitation of CSE, whereas S1 rTMS boosted it. The results highlight the differential pattern of cortico-cortical connectivity within the sensorimotor system during the mental simulation of the kinesthetic and visual consequences of actions.

Practicing Surgical Pathology at a Distance, Need of the Hour: Our Experience of a Single Tertiary Care Referral Cancer Centre Observational Study from Western India During Covid-19 Pandemic

COVID 19 pandemic struck the globe at a lightning speed mandating the use of containment measures like social distancing and work from home policies to prevent the transmission of this potentially lethal respiratory virus. Our institute, a tertiary referral cancer center catering to the whole of India (Western India in particular), implemented the “work from home” policy during COVID 19 pandemic. For the first time, the concept of “Practicing Pathology from the Distance” (telepathology) was implemented in the Department Of Pathology. This paper discusses how telepathology was factualized, integrated the problems faced during its reporting and possible solutions into the daily surgical pathology reporting at our institute. We analyzed 135 cases by Static Imagery Telepathology out of the total 385 cases reported during national lockdown in India (23rd March to 23rd May 2020) with later confirmation by light microscopy to search for percentage of diagnostic concordance and discrepancy, if any. We experienced 100% diagnostic concordance in all the cases which tested the experience skill and expertise of the concerned telepathology team. However some diagnostic challenges and technical pitfalls were noted while using static imagery technique like time constraints and image qualities. These problems could be resolved by integrating whole slide imaging telepathology for future use. We conclude that during the COVID 19 pandemic, practicing pathology at a distance by integration of technology, expertise, and team work is the need of the hour and the ultimate solution.

Gaze Behavior During Navigation and Visual Search of an Open-World Virtual Environment.

Eye tracking has been an essential tool within the vision science community for many years. However, the majority of studies involving eye-tracking technology employ a relatively passive approach through the use of static imagery, prescribed motion, or video stimuli. This is in contrast to our everyday interaction with the natural world where we navigate our environment while actively seeking and using task-relevant visual information. For this reason, an increasing number of vision researchers are employing virtual environment platforms, which offer interactive, realistic visual environments while maintaining a substantial level of experimental control. Here, we recorded eye movement behavior while subjects freely navigated through a rich, open-world virtual environment. Within this environment, subjects completed a visual search task where they were asked to find and count occurrence of specific targets among numerous distractor items. We assigned each participant into one of four target conditions: Humvees, motorcycles, aircraft, or furniture. Our results show a statistically significant relationship between gaze behavior and target objects across Target Conditions with increased visual attention toward assigned targets. Specifically, we see an increase in the number of fixations and an increase in dwell time on target relative to distractor objects. In addition, we included a divided attention task to investigate how search changed with the addition of a secondary task. With increased cognitive load, subjects slowed their speed, decreased gaze on objects, and increased the number of objects scanned in the environment. Overall, our results confirm previous findings and support that complex virtual environments can be used for active visual search experimentation, maintaining a high level of precision in the quantification of gaze information and visual attention. This study contributes to our understanding of how individuals search for information in a naturalistic (open-world) virtual environment. Likewise, our paradigm provides an intriguing look into the heterogeneity of individual behaviors when completing an un-timed visual search task while actively navigating.

A Semi-Automated Method for Monitoring of Roads with Traffic from High Resolution Satellite Image

Efficient traffic management is critical in today’s overcrowded urban environments. Thanks to modern satellite imagery, high resolution images of current traffic conditions at regular intervals are easily available. In order to be able to respond to changes in traffic conditions quickly, it is critical to have an efficient and accurate system for traffic analysis of the static imagery available from these high resolution satellites. Two sub-problems are involved : detection of roads and detection of vehicles. A variety of algorithms are already available for solving these problems individually. For road tracking, we have median filers, color box segmentation, morphological processing, etc. There are algorithms like Bayesian background transformation, Blob extraction, and other vision based algorithms for vehicle detection. The goal of this paper is to automate tracking of roads and vehicles together from high resolution satellite images at any time statically, that is, without motion detection and leaving areas which are not roads like parking lot, settlements etc. Doing so, key points can be formalized in urban planning like finding other routes, human health factors, construction in endangered areas etc. By achieving the targeted objective and comparison with different algorithms, many problem statements can be defined and can be worked upon towards developing a solution.

Psychological Restoration and the Effect of People in Nature and Urban Scenes: A Laboratory Experiment

It is well-evidenced that exposure to natural environments increases psychological restoration as compared to non-natural settings, increasing our ability to recover from stress, low mood, and mental fatigue and encouraging positive social interactions that cultivate social cohesion. However, very few studies have explored how the inclusion of people within a given environment—either urban or natural settings—affect restorative health outcomes. We present three laboratory-based studies examining, first, the effect of nature vs. urban scenes, and second, investigating nature ‘with’ vs. ‘without’ people—using static and moving imagery—on psychological restoration and social wellbeing. Our third study explores differences between urban and natural settings both with vs. without people, using video stimuli to understand potential restorative and social wellbeing effects. Outcome measures across all studies included perceived social belonging, loneliness, subjective mood, and perceived restorativeness. Studies 1 and 2 both used a within group, randomized crossover design. Study 1 (n = 45, mean age = 20.7) explored static imagery of environmental conditions without people; findings were consistent with restorative theories showing a positive effect of nature exposure on all outcome measures. Study 2 compared nature scenes with vs. without people (n = 47, mean age = 20.9) and we found no significant differences on our outcome measures between either social scenario, though both scenarios generated positive wellbeing outcomes. Study 3, conducted on Amazon Mechanical Turk, employed an independent group design with subjects randomly assigned to one of four conditions; an urban vs. nature setting, with vs. without people. We explored the effect of moving imagery on psychological restoration (n = 200, mean age = 35.7) and our findings showed no impact on belonging, loneliness, or mood between conditions, but did show that—regardless of the inclusion of people—the nature settings were more restorative than the urban. There were no differences in psychological restoration between nature conditions with vs. without people. We discuss the implications for restorative environment research exploring social-environmental interactions.

A Gated Recurrent Units (GRU)-Based Model for Early Detection of Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome through Time-Series Satellite Imagery

In general, early detection and timely management of plant diseases are essential for reducing yield loss. Traditional manual inspection of fields is often time-consuming and laborious. Automated imaging techniques have recently been successfully applied to detect plant diseases. However, these methods mostly focus on the current state of the crop. This paper proposes a gated recurrent unit (GRU)-based model to predict soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS) disease development. To detect SDS at a quadrat level, the proposed method uses satellite images collected from PlanetScope as the training set. The pixel image data include the spectral bands of red, green, blue and near-infrared (NIR). Data collected during the 2016 and 2017 soybean-growing seasons were analyzed. Instead of using individual static imagery, the GRU-based model converts the original imagery into time-series data. SDS predictions were made on different data scenarios and the results were compared with fully connected deep neural network (FCDNN) and XGBoost methods. The overall test accuracy of classifying healthy and diseased quadrates in all methods was above 76%. The test accuracy of the FCDNN and XGBoost were 76.3–85.5% and 80.6–89.2%, respectively, while the test accuracy of the GRU-based model was 82.5–90.4%. The calculation results show that the proposed method can improve the detection accuracy by up to 7% with time-series imagery. Thus, the proposed method has the potential to predict SDS at a future time.

教學明示程度、學習認知風格與呈現模態對認知語言學為基礎之視覺輔助應用於介系詞教學成效之影響: 以台灣英語課室為例

This study investigates the roles of instruction explicitness and learning styles on the relative effectiveness of multimedia glossing with texts and cognitive linguistics-based image schemas presented in two modalities, i.e., static and animated, on Taiwanese college EFL students learning three polysemous prepositions: above, on, and over. Based on a pre-post-test design, the experiments consist of a free writing test and a gap-fill test, respectively used to gauge the active and passive aspects of learners’ receptive lexical gain. Three groups of intermediate learners were recruited, receiving the same text annotations but different treatments configured in presentation modes and explicitness: SI group with text-static imagery annotations under implicit instruction, AI group with text-animation annotations under implicit instruction, and AE group with text-animation annotations under explicit instruction. The results suggest the following: (1) animations, compared with static imagery, seem able to better enrich the meaningfulness of image schemas and elicit larger and more durable learning effects, especially on the more active aspects of the receptive gain; (2) explicit verbal cues enhanced the learning effects on the active aspects of the receptive gains; (3) visualizers benefit more from animations than verbalizers in both active and passive aspects of the receptive gains, especially if verbal cues are provided. Pedagogical suggestions include the utilization of image schema visual aids in a dynamic presentation mode accompanied by sufficient explicit instruction to optimize the effects of learning polysemous words.

Homonegativity Scores in Response to Static Same-Sex Imagery versus Observable Behavioral Change in Response to an Interactive Gay Male Target

ABSTRACT Homonegativity research tends to focus on the identities of gay men and lesbian women through inauthentic means such as vignettes and signifiers like t-shirts with pro-gay slogans. Such research also tends to neglect sexual behavior. These issues were addressed in the present mixed-methods study. Heterosexual male (n = 196) and female (n = 219) participants were asked to complete measures of old-fashioned and modern homonegativity toward gay men and lesbian women after viewing a set of stimuli depicting gay male, lesbian female, or heterosexual couples. Participants also completed an interview with the researcher where he self-identified as a gay male and observed any changes in behavior following his disclosure. Findings indicated that male participants showed higher levels of modern homonegativity than female participants, regardless of the images viewed, and had higher odds of exhibiting negative behavioral change in response to the researcher’s self-disclosure. Also, participants who viewed images of lesbian couples kissing or embracing had lower odds of showing negative behavioral change.

Is Callous Always Cold? A Critical Review of the Literature on Emotion and the Development of Callous-Unemotional Traits in Children.

Low emotional responsiveness is considered a core feature of callous-unemotional (CU) traits in childhood and, in the context of antisocial behavior, a precursor of psychopathic traits in adulthood. However, recent findings suggest that CU traits are not always characterized by low emotional responsiveness and the evidence base requires review. This review asks a fundamental question- 'Is callous always cold?'-with a specific focus on emotional responsiveness and CU traits in children with conduct problems (CPs). PRISMA review protocols were followed to identify literature reporting on emotional responsiveness for children 3-18years with CPs and varying (high and low) CU traits. Results from eligible studies were contrasted by age (children 3-11years, adolescents 12-18years), emotional responsive measurement type (physiological, behavioral, self-report), emotion-eliciting stimuli type (interactive activities, static imagery, film) and socio-emotional context of the stimuli (other-orientated, self-orientated, neutral). This review highlights considerable variation in results across studies: reduced emotional responsiveness was not synonymous with participants demonstrating high CU traits. A more consistent picture of reduced emotional responsiveness in participants with high CU traits was found when studies used physiological measures, when stimuli were other-orientated in socio-emotional context, and in older, adolescent samples. In conclusion, this paper advocates for a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between high CU traits and the specific factors involved in emotional responsiveness, ultimately suggesting that callous is not always cold. Given that emotional responsiveness is central to theories of moral development, these findings may suggest innovative approaches to early intervention.

Refocusing of Multiple Moving Targets Based on the Joint Sparse Processing of One Channel Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery Patches

A sparse-based refocusing methodology for multiple slow-moving targets (MTs) located inside strong clutter regions is proposed in this paper. The defocused regions of MTs in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery were utilized here instead of the whole original radar data. A joint radar projection operator for the static and moving objects was formulated and employed to construct an optimization problem. The Lp norm constraint was utilized to promote the separation of MT data and the suppression of clutter. After the joint sparse imaging processing, the energy of strong static targets could be suppressed significantly in the reconstructed MT imagery. The static scene imagery could be derived simultaneously without the defocused MT. Finally, numerical simulations were used verify the validity and robustness of the proposed methodology.

Dynamic/Static Image Use in ISIS’s Media Campaign: An Audience Involvement Strategy for Achieving Goals

ABSTRACT The rebound of ISIS in the online environment in the aftermath of the coalition force liberation of Mosul and Raqqa has reinvigorated the need to understand the strategic choices of the group’s media campaign. This study explores ISIS’s use of dynamic vs. static imagery, with a particular focus on how the image form helps facilitate the group’s goals. Experimental studies document that the use of dynamic imagery heightens viewer attention, recall, and reaction to visual content, while fMRI studies add that audiences process dynamic still images as imagined movements. Using a content analysis of 3745 images in Dabiq, Rumiyah, and al-Naba’ from July 2014 to September 2018, we found that ISIS relies heavily on dynamic imagery in its print media campaign. The deployment of the visual strategy, however, displays significant variation based on the language of the target audience, the primary message content displayed in the photographs, and level of military force opposition the group is facing when it disseminates magazines and newsletters.

The European Pillar of Social Rights: An Assessment of its Meaning and Significance

AbstractThe European Pillar of Social Rights is a high-profile political reaffirmation of twenty social rights and principles. Its implementation deploys the full EU governance arsenal: regulations, directives, recommendations, communications, new institutions, funding actions, and country-specific recommendations. As such, the static imagery evoked by a ‘pillar’ does not capture the true nature of the initiative, which is dynamic and fluid, wide-ranging, and permeating. An equation of the Pillar with the set of twenty rights and principles it proclaims similarly fails to capture its true significance, which lies in its programmatic nature. Several important measures have already been proposed as part of this new social action plan for Europe, some of which are close to adoption. This Article analyses the meaning of the Pillar and its potential significance, by considering its contentsensu largo, and its broader context. It argues that even if the Pillar cannot address all the EU's social failings, it has put a surprising social spin on the Better Regulation Agenda that was threatening to erode the socialacquis, it has rekindled the EU's relationship with the International Labour Organization and Council of Europe, and it helps rebalance the EU's output by reviving the use of the Treaty's Social Title.

Stereo-Based 3D Reconstruction of Potholes by a Hybrid, Dense Matching Scheme

Automated condition monitoring of pavements is seeing a paradigm shift in the twenty-first century, as the focus is increasingly shifting from visual to 3D imaging. The 3D measurement represents the ground truth, within the bounds of discretization of the imager. Hence, working with the 3D data and interpreting it is a lot easier. The 3D laser scanners are the current norm for range imaging. Laser scanners, although technically versatile and extremely accurate, are very expensive. Therefore, the need for alternative 3D imaging technologies is imperative, especially in the developing world context. The coming decade will see alternative technologies first target large pavement distresses, like potholes, before moving onto smaller defect types. In this regard, this is the first study that treats the stereo imaging of roads from a moving vehicle, for any distresses, and especially for pothole measurements. A fast stereo matching procedure is proposed. A preliminary keypoint matching estimates the global disparity between the stereo pair. The estimated disparity is used toward further keypoint and block matching procedure, by concentrating on smaller image regions. Images obtained from a moving vehicle are preprocessed to reduce the effects of image blur. Furthermore, algorithms to determine key critical metrological parameters, such as the area, depth, and volume, of a pothole are also developed. A benchmarking of the proposed system shows that the 3D measurements are within 3 mm for static situations and 5 mm when imaged from a moving vehicle. At 10-km/h vehicle speed, potholes are imaged to accuracies of −20% for volume, −15% for area, and −4% for depth, when compared to static imagery.